Closet structure



Jan. 14, 1969 E. c. COULTER 3,421,275

CLOSET STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 1, 1966 Sheet I of 2 INVENTOR. ERLE C. COULTER Y ATT'YS Jan. 14, 1969 E. c. COULTER 3,421,275

CLOSET STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 1, 1966 Sheet 2 of z lllb INVENTOR. ERLE c. C'OULTER United States Patent laims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A ceiling-to-fioor closet structure adapted for use in a room having a fixed ceiling and floor. The closet structure includes a pair of side wall frames, each frame being provided by vertically aligned horizontally extending channels secured to the floor and ceiling and a vertically extending channel secured to the wall. A generally rectangular side wall panel having a height approximately the same as the height of the room is slidably received within each frame, and each side wall includes a marginal piece extending inwardly toward the other side wall. A header channel is attached to the ceiling and the side flanges of the header channel overlap the marginal walls and secure the side walls in the frames. The header channel is provided with a foreshortened web portion to permit the header channel to be attached to the wall after the side walls are received by the frames.

This invention relates to a closet or wardrobe structure and, more particularly, to a closet structure which may be quickly and easily assembled and disassembled.

Almost all living quarters require some sort of closet or wardrobe in which clothes, shoes, and other items may be stored in an out-of-the-way fashion. Such closets are frequently built into the living quarters of a dwelling, but such built-in closets can neither be enlarged nor moved to another location that may subsequently become more desirable. Custom-made closets suffer the further disadvantage of being relatively expensive, requiring the services of a skilled carpenter.

The need for relatively inexpensive closet structures which may be readily assembled in one location and subsequently readily disassembled and transferred to a new location is particularly acute in multiple-unit dwellings, such as high-rise developments or school dormitories. Problems that have arisen in attempts to construct prefabricated closets are the difiiculties inherent in firmly securing the erected closet in a stable manner, in providing a structure which may be adapted for use in a variety of locations, in assembling the structure, and in providing an esthetically pleasing appearance.

It is therefore, an object of this invention to provide a closet structure which overcomes the foregoing difliculties. More particularly, it is an object of this invention to provide a closet structure which is readily assembled in a stable manner, and which may be readily disassembled. Further, it is an object of this invention to provide an easily-constructed closet structure which may be adapted for use in a variety of different sized rooms. Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the specification proceeds.

The invention is explained in conjunction with an illustrative embodiment in the accompanying drawing, in which- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the inventive closet structure assembled against a wall of a room;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the closet structure shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top view of the structure of FIG. 1;

3,421,275 Patented Jan. 14, 1969 FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the inventive closet structure assembled in a corner of a room; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the inventive closet structure adajted for use in a high-ceilinged room.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the numeral 10 designates generally the inventive closet structure assembled against a wall 11 and a floor 12 of a room. The closet 10 is seen to be formed by room wall 11, side panels 13 and 14, floor 12, and the ceiling of the room, which, for purposes of clarity, is not shown.

Side panel 13 is received in floor channel 15, wall channel 16 and ceiling channel 17. Similarly, side panel 14 is received in floor panel 18, wall channel 19, and ceiling channel 20.

Wall channels 16 and 19 are secured to wall 11 in a generally vertical fashion by means of screws, bolts or other suitable fastening means. Floor channel 15 extends outwardly from wall channel 16 and is secured to floor 12, and ceiling channel 17 extends outwardly from wall channel 16 and is secured to the ceiling of the room. Floor channel 15, wall channel 16 and ceiling channel 17 are seen to lie in a generally vertical plane and form a frame for side panel 13.

Similarly, floor channel 18, wall channel 19 and ceiling channel 20 are suitably secured to the floor 12, wall 11 and ceiling, respectively, of the room, and form a frame for side panel 14.

Side panels 13 and 14 may advantageously be provided with inwardly-extending marginal pieces 21 and 22.

Extending between side panels 13 and 14 and secured to the ceiling, is header channel 23. Received in header channel 23 is header panel 24, which is secured to side panels 13 and 14 by means of brackets 25 and 26 and screws 27 (see FIG. 2). Brackets 25 and 26 are secured to the back side of header panel 24 and to marginal pieces 21 and 22, respectively.

Referring now to FIG. 3, header channel 23 is seen to include a web portion 28 having openings 29 for securing the channel to the ceiling. Header channel 23 also includes downwardly-extending flanges 30 and 31. Flange 30 extends in overlapping relationship with marginal pieces 21 and 22, and flange 31 necessarily terminates before the inside surfaces of side panels 13 and 14. Web 28 of header channel 23 is foreshortened as at 32, terminating before marginal piece 21.

Ceiling channel 20 and header channel 23 are beveled at their adjacent ends to provide a mating relationship and an esthetically pleasing appearance. Similiarly, ceiling channel 17 and header channel 23 are also beveled at their adjacent ends.

Referring now to FIG. 1, closet 10 may advantageously be provided with shelf 33 which is secured to side panels 13 and 14. A standard folding door, curtain, or other closure means may be provided at the front of the closet between the side panels in order to keep objects within the closet from view.

Construction The construction of the closet will now be explained. Vertically-extending wall channels 16 and 19 are first secured to wall 11. The channels may be spaced at any desired distance, depending upon the size of closet desired. Floor channel 15 and ceiling channel 17 are then secured to the floor and ceiling, respectively, and are aligned with wall channel 16. Similarly, floor channel 18 and ceiling channel 20 are aligned with wall channel 19 and secured to the floor and ceiling. Floor channel 15, wall channel 16 and ceiling channel 17 provide a vertical frame into which side panel 13 may readily be inserted. Side panel 13 may be manufactured in a variety 3 of lengths, and the purchaser may choose a panel length suitable for the height of the room in which the closet is to be constructed. Rooms are commonly constructed with 8-foot ceilings, but panels may also be provided for any size room.

Similarly, floor channel 18, wall channel 19 and ceiling channel 20 provide a generally vertical frame into which side panel 14 may readily be inserted. Header channel 23 is then inserted between marginal piece 22 and the ceiling, and the channel is swung into bearing engagement with the ceiling and secured thereto. The foreshortened edge 32 of the web of the header channel permits the channel to be swung upwardly with its flanges and 31 on either side of marginal piece 21. Flange 30 overlaps marginal pieces 21 and 22 and thereby secures side panels 13 and 14 in their respective frames.

Header panel 24 may then be inserted into header channel 23 and secured to the side panels by means of brackets 25 and 26. The brackets are secured to the header panel and the side panels on the inside thereof so that they are not readily apparent to an observer.

The header panel 24 may also be provided in a variety of lengths, so that any desired closet Width may be provided.

It is thus seen that a closet structure has been provided which is quickly and easily assembled by an unskilled worker merely by inserting a minimum number of screws or other fastening means and sliding the panels into place. The unique construction of the header channel firmly secures the side panels in place without the necessity of inserting nails or screws into the side panels themselves. If it is desired to use the header panel, the side panels are further secured in place because they are joined to the header panel, which is seated in the-header channel.

The various parts of the closet structure may be provided in a single size, and the length of the components may readily be cut to any desired size. This enables the closet to be readily assembled even in rooms of unorthodox heights, and the header panel may be cut so that the closet may be built of any desired width.

The closet is also readily disassembled. The header panel and channel are first removed, and the side panels may then be pulled from their associated channels. The disassembled closet may be compactly stored until such time as it is again needed. When reassembled, the size of the closet may be varied from the size as originally assembled by cutting the components to the desired length. This feature enables the closet to be reassembled in a dilferent location. The closet may be assembled and disassembled any number of times without losing its utility or beauty since fastening means are not required to secure the side panels in place.

The closet may be just as readily assembled in a corner of a room, as illustrated in FIG. 4. Side panel 113 is received in channels 115, 116 and 117, which are secured to the floor 112, wall 111a and ceiling, respectively. Secured to wall 111b is wall channel 119, and received in channel 119 is front wall 122. Extending between side panel 113 and marginal piece 122 is header channel 123, which is attached to the ceiling. Received in header channel 123 is header panel 124, which is secured to marginal piece 122 and side panel 113.

The closet may also be constructed in a room having a ceiling higher than the height of the side panels. As shown in FIG. 5, the wall channels 16 and 19 are secured to the wall in the usual manner. Ceiling channels 17 and 20 are secured to extension panels 34 and 35, respectively, and header channel 23 is secured to extension panel 36. Extension panels 3436 extend from the top of side panels 13 and 14 to the ceiling of the room in which the closet is constructed.

While in the foregoing specification a detailed description of an illustrative embodiment was described for the purposes of illustration, it is to be understood that many of the details herein given may be varied considerably by those skilled in the art Without veering from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A closet structure adapted for use in a room having a wall, ceiling and a floor, the distance between said ceiling and floor being fixed, comprising a pair of spacedapart vertically extending channels adapted for attachment to the wall, a first pair of horizontally extending channels, one of the channels-of said first pair being adapted for attachment to the ceiling and the other of the channels of said first pair being adapted for attachment to the floor, said first pair of channels and one of said vertically extending channels lying generally in the same vertical plane, a second pair of horizontally extending channels, one of the channels of said second pair being adapted for attachment to said ceiling and the other of the channels of said second pair being adapted for attachment to the floor, said second pair of channels and the other of said vertically extending channels lying generally in the same vertical plane, a pair of vertically extending spaced-apart generally rectangular side walls, each of said side walls having front, rear, and top and bottom edges and having a height approximately the same as the distance between said ceiling and floor, the top and bottom edges of each side wall being slidably received in one of said pair of horizontally extending channels and the rear edge of each side wall being received in one of said vertically extending channels, a header channel adapted for attachment to the ceiling, said side walls being restrained against movement away from said room wall by said header channel, each of said side walls including a marginal wall extending inwardly from said one edge toward the other side wall, and a header panel received in said header channel and extending between said marginal walls, said header channel comprising a web portion and a pair of side flanges, at least one of said side flanges extending in overlapping relationship with said marginal walls, said Web portion terminating before the end of said one side flange adjacent one end of said header channel whereby said header channel may be attached to said ceiling after said side walls are received in their respective vertical and horizontal channels.

2. A closet structure adapted for use in a room having a pair of intersecting walls, a ceiling, and a floor, the distance between said ceiling and floor being fixed, comprising a first vertically extending channel adapted for attachment to one'of said walls, a pair of horizontally extending channels, one of said horizontally extending channels being adapted for attachment to said ceiling and the other of said horizontally extending channels be ing adapted for attachment to the floor, a side wall having front, rear, top and bottom edges and having a height approximately the same as the distance between said ceiling and floor, said top and bottom edges being received by said horizontally extending channels and said rear edge being received by said vertically extending channel, a second vertically extending channel adapted for attachment to the other of said walls, a front wall received in said second channel, said front wall having a height approximately the same as the distance between said ceiling and floor, a header channel adapted for attachment to the ceiling, said side wall being restrained against movement away from said one room wall by said header channel, said side wall including a marginal wall extending inwardly from said front edge toward said front wall and a header panel received in said header channel, said header panel extending between said marginal wall and said front wall, said header channel comprising a web portion and a pair of side flanges, at least one of said side flanges extending in overlapping relationship with said marginal wall and said front wall, said web portion terminating before the end of said one side flange adjacent one end of said header channel, whereby said header channel may be attached to said ceiling after said side wall and said front wall are received in their respective vertical channels.

3. A closet structure adapted for use in a room having a wall, ceiling and a floor, the distance between said ceiling and floor being fixed, comprising a pair of spacedapart vertically extending channels having approximately the same height as the room and adapted for attachment to the wall, a first pair of horizontally extending channels, one of the channels of said first pair being adapted for attachment to the ceiling and the other of the channels of said first pair being adapted for attachment to the floor, said first pair of channels and one of said vertically extending channels lying generally in the same vertical plane, a second pair of horizontally extending channels, one of the channels of said second pair being adapted for attachment to said ceiling and the other of the channels of said second pair being adapted for attachment to the floor, said second pair of channels and the other of said vertically extending channels lying generally in the same vertical plane, a pair of vertically extending spaced-apart generally rectangular side Walls, each of said side walls having front, rear, and top and bottom edges and having a height approximately the same as the distance between said ceiling and floor, the top and bottom edges of each side wall being slidably received in one of said pairs of horizontally extending channels and the rear edge of each side wall being received in one of said vertically extending channels, a header channel adapted for attachment to the ceiling and including a web portion and a pair of side flanges, one of said side flanges extending in overlapping relationship with the front of each of said side walls, a portion of said header channel terminating before the end of said one side flange adjacent one end of the header channel whereby said header channel may be attached to said ceiling after said side walls are received in their respective vertical and horizontal channels, said side walls being restrained against movement away from said room wall by said header channel, and a header panel received in said header channel and extending between said side Wall front edges.

4. The structure of claim 3 in which each of said side walls includes a marginal wall extending from said front edge toward the other side wall, said one side flange extending in overlapping relationship with each of the marginal walls, said header panel extending between said marginal walls.

5. A closet structure adapted for use in a room having a pair of intersecting walls, a ceiling, and a floor, the distance between said ceiling and floor being fixed, comprising a first vertically extending channel having approximately the same height as the room and adapted for attachment to one of said walls, a pair of horizontally extending channels, one of said horizontally extending channels being adapted for attachment to said ceiling and the other of said horizontally extending channels being adapted for attachment to the floor, a side wall having front, rear, top and bottom edges and having a height approximately the same as the distance between said ceiling and floor, said top and bottom edges being received by said horizontally extending channels and said rear edge being received by said vertically extending channel, a second vertically extending channel having approximately the same height as the room and adapted for attachment to the other of said walls, a front wall received in said second channel, said front wall having a height approximately the same as the distance between said ceiling and floor, a header channel adapted for attachment to the ceiling and including a web portion and a pair of side flanges, one of said side flanges extending in overlapping relationship with said front wall and the front of said side wall, a portion of said header channel terminating before the end of said one side flange adjacent one end of the header channel whereby said header channel may be attached to said ceiling after the side Wall and the front wall are received in their respective channels, said side wall being restrained against movement away from said one room wall, and a header panel received in said header channel, said header channel extending between said side wall front edge and said front wall.

6. The structure of claim 5 in which said side wall includes a marginal wall extending from said front edge toward said front wall, said one side flange extending in overlapping relationship with said marginal wall, said header panel extending between said marginal wall and said front wall.

7. A method of constructing a ceiling-to-floor closet in a room having a fixed ceiling and floor comprising the steps of securing in a generally vertical manner a first pair of spaced-apart channels to a Wall of said room, securing a second pair of channels to the ceiling of said room,

securing a third pair of channels to the floor of said room,

each of the first pair of channels extending for substantially the entire distance between the floor and ceiling and one channel from each of the first, second, and third pairs being generally aligned in a vertical plane to form a first frame, the other of the channels of the first, second, and third pairs being generally aligned in a vertical plane to form a second frame,

inserting a generally rectangular side panel into each of said frames,

each of the side panels having front and rear edges and having a height approximately equal to the distance between said ceiling and floor, each side panel including a marginal piece extending toward the other side panel, inserting one end of a header channel between the top of one marginal piece and the ceiling,

said header channel being longer than the distance between the marginal pieces and including a web and a pair of side flanges, a portion of the header channel terminating before the end of said side flanges adjacent the other end of the header channel, swinging the header channel upwardly into engagement with the ceiling so that end portions of the side flanges of the header channel overlie portions of the sides of the other marginal piece,

securing the header channel to the ceiling,

inserting a header panel into the header channel and securing the header panel therein.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,450,733 4/1923 Reaugh 52238 X 1,857,913 5/1932 Iudelson 52262 2,343,201 2/1944 Nilson 52--264 2,389,724 11/ 1945 Falco 52278 X 2,966,385 12/1960 Murphy et al. 3l2257 3,110,934 11/1963 Triplett 5236 X 3,160,246 12/1964 Donlon 52241 X 3,178,244 4/1965 Reiss et al 312-238 X 3,189,135 6/1965 SlOwinski 52241 3,230,549 l/l966 McMurtrie 5279 HENRY C. SUTHERLAND, Primary Examiner.

CHARLES G. MUELLER, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

